A warning has been issued to all dog owners planning on walking their pets as they take their children to school for the new term.
Following to an increase in dog fouling around the entrances of schools, Knowsley Council’s Dog Warden Service is calling on parents and carers dropping off children to make sure they clean up after their pets. It comes after several complaints on the issue around schools.
Several residents across Knowsley have taken to social media to blast the "disgusting mess" being left behind by dog owners as people are urged to have "pride" in where they live. In a bid to remind those walking their dogs, a number of ‘clean it up’ stencils have been painted on pavements near the entrances of schools across the borough.
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The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the control of dogs grants the Council the power to hold dog owners to account for dog fouling, including issuing Fixed Penalty Notices of £100 if the rules aren’t followed. Anyone found guilty of breaching the order could be fined up to £1,000.
Dog owners are urged to:
- Be in control of your dog so you know when it has fouled
- Always carry a bag or other means of cleaning up after your dog at all times
- Always clean up after your dog if it fouls
- Dispose of dog bags in the nearest bin or your maroon bin if there are no public bins nearby.
To raise awareness of the issue, the Council is regularly patrolling the worst affected areas and is appealing to local residents to report any incidents of dog fouling on its website. This allows the team to identify dog fouling hotspots and focus patrols in these areas.
Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, Cllr Shelley Powell said: "We know that most residents are responsible owners and pick up after their dogs if they foul near the school gates. However, the selfish and irresponsible actions of the few create a blight on our streets, and a particular danger in areas where children gather, so the start of the new term is a good time to remind dog owners of their responsibilities, and the consequences of flouting the rules."
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